Winter signals the entry of the exciting holiday and Christmas season. During these months, people take out and wear their padded jackets, mittens, and scarves to become wardrobe staples. They also get to enjoy the company of loved ones with whom they reunite after months apart. Centuries may have passed, but the warmth of togetherness never fails to triumph over the numbing cold.
Even so, we live in an era where many people are still neglected by society. During the harsh winter months, not enough light is given over their plight. While it’s a season of celebration, these homeless people struggle to get by day by day with little food to eat and live in inadequately heated shelters.
Christmas still is a season of giving, and we need not limit it to our circle. It’s the perfect time for companies to give back to the community for another triumphant year and for families to radiate their blessedness to the less fortunate. Dedicating part of our holidays in remembrance of those without such a luxury is always worthwhile.
Still, there are ways to help them in impactful ways, including pooling efforts and resources in groups rather than individually. Starting this initiative is almost always the hardest part. But, by getting in touch with local social service agencies, you can easily identify your target community.
Once you have a community you intend to help, assessing their needs by interviewing them or immersing in their daily life should come naturally. After ticking these tasks off your list, you can proceed with planning how you would instead help them. It will take time to brainstorm and prepare, but here are some ideas you and your friends and family can do to create waves of compassion in your community:
Food
Many restaurants and local food joints take part in mass cooks to feed the poor. You can support the cause by knowing their schedules and showing up on the day to help distribute food packs. You can also donate funds for their purchase of raw ingredients, beverages, and food packaging.
Suppose you live somewhere that is prone to natural calamities, especially during winter. In that case, crowdfunding for the purchase of emergency food kits and gallons of drinking water should be the wiser option. Coordinating with your local disaster management agency could allow you to better reach those who are in dire need.
Clothing
You and your group can learn how to knit mittens, beanies, and scarves. If not, you can gather funds to have a local artisan produce months ahead of winter. Remember to particularly indicate the sizing dimensions of every clothing article so that not one member of your beneficiaries will be left empty-handed. As early as possible, you should have a comprehensive profile of these people, which includes their age.
Agree with your group to donate old winter clothing. You can also bring a huge box and collect clothing donations house-to-house in your neighborhood. If not, you can disseminate information about the setting up of a donation drop-off box in your community center and until when your neighbors can donate.
Evacuation
We will never know when a blizzard will hit, so it is just right to always prepare identified evacuation areas. Before the demand peaks during winter, get in touch with a local heating rental service provider and request priority over other requests, if possible. Carefully emphasize that your request is for community service purposes. If the company is supportive of your plan, they might offer you a discount.
Connect with the people in charge of maintaining evacuation facilities and offer any help possible. For instance, you could help them replace defective light bulbs, clean inside, and furnish the sleeping quarters.
Slippery Roads
One of the simplest ways you can help your community during winter is by clearing pedestrian paths to prevent slip-related injuries. These can be sidewalks and sets of stairs of slippery ice and snow. You can do this with your group by shoveling away thick layers of snow, if not using a snowblower.
A more economical tool than snowblowers is salt, which you can pour over frozen paths to accelerate their melting. Another is sand which could make the surface courser and, in turn, less slippery to tread on.
Due to harsh weather, doing community service may be challenging during winter. But it is worth noting that it is during these months that the poor have it the hardest. Keeping this in mind will make all your efforts pay off, even encourage you to do it yearly.
